Schedule of Events
Friday, October 13
All times are listed in Eastern Daylight Time (EDT).
9 a.m. – 6 p.m. | Diana Center, Main Lobby
CHECK-IN & INFORMATION CENTER
Welcome! When you arrive on campus each day, please stop by to check in and pick up a name tag and program. If questions arise, Family Weekend staff will be available here to assist you.
9 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Diana Center, Main Lobby
PARENTS COUNCIL TABLE
Stop by to say hello, grab some swag, and discover more about the Barnard Parents Council. Find out how you can make a difference for the College and deepen your connection with the Barnard community. When parents of Barnard students make a leadership gift to the Barnard Annual Fund, they become members of both the Blue & Bold Society, Barnard’s leadership giving society, and the Parents Council. For more information, please contact us at parentsgiving@barnard.edu.
9 – 10:50 a.m. | Barnard Hall, Studio 305
OBSERVE A BARNARD DANCE CLASS: Advanced Ballet VI with Ashley Tuttle
Barnard’s outstanding Dance Department offers an interdisciplinary program that integrates the study of dance within a liberal arts setting of intellectual and creative exploration and serves as the center for dance performance and research for both Barnard and Columbia. The department offers technique courses for students of all levels of expertise, and both courses and auditions for productions are open to both majors and non-majors alike. Ballet classes teach classical ballet techniques, emphasizing proper alignment and addressing artistry of articulation, phrasing, dynamics, and nuance at each level.
Capacity may be limited, so please be courteous in keeping your visit brief if other families are waiting. Photography, food, and drink are not permitted in the dance studio.
9:30 – 10:15 a.m. | Diana Center, Event Oval, Lower Level 1
ACADEMIC OPPORTUNITIES ABOUND: LEARNING AND CREATING INSIDE OUR CLASSROOMS AND IN OUR CENTERS
Barnard’s educational experience is rooted in the liberal arts and is multidisciplinary by nature — and at a time of great change in higher education, we are well positioned to address the challenges facing us. Join us for a discussion of how Barnard’s world-renowned faculty and our academic centers, working at the intersection of the liberal arts and new technologies, offer our students unique opportunities to learn, create, and develop as leaders. Featured speakers:
- Linda A. Bell, Provost and Dean of the Faculty, Claire Tow Professor of Economics
- Gabri Christa, Associate Professor of Professional Practice, Dance Department, and Faculty Director of the Movement Lab
- Alexander Cooley, Claire Tow Professor of Political Science and Vice Provost for Research, Libraries & Academic Centers
- Rebecca Wright, Druckenmiller Professor of Computer Science and Director of the Vagelos Computational Science Center
10 – 10:45 a.m. | Milbank Hall, Room 016, Lower Level
DROP BY THE TODDLER CENTER OBSERVATION ROOM
Since its opening in 1973, the Toddler Center has functioned as an integral part of the Psychology Department, providing a warm, positive first school experience for children, a unique learning experience for Barnard and Columbia students, a space to conduct research on early development and parenting, and a forum for parents and caregivers to discuss and learn about toddler development.
We invite you to stop by to peek into a toddler class in session from the Observation Room, which provides a unique perspective utilized by students studying Developmental Psychology, toddler parents, and the Center’s staff. A teacher and Barnard alum will be available to share more about the program and answer your questions.
The Observation Room has limited capacity, so please keep your visit brief so that other families can be accommodated. Please note that phones and other light-emitting devices may not be used. You may also visit the Toddler Center at your own pace during the Open House, 3:15 – 4 p.m.
Getting to the Toddler Center: Entering through the central doors of Milbank Hall, descend the short staircase and turn right through the double doors. To avoid stairs, please enter via the glass link between Altschul and Milbank Halls and turn right. The administrative office is Room 016, on the left-hand side as you proceed down the hall. From there, our staff will provide access to the Observation Room.
10:15 – 11:15 a.m. | Barnard Hall, James Room, 4th Floor
STUDENT SERVICES RESOURCE FAIR
Barnard’s outstanding student services staff support students with all facets of life at Barnard. During this Resource Fair, you will meet staff from many offices on campus and learn how they provide your students with intellectual and social opportunities, promote student wellness, build community, and more. You will also have the opportunity to discuss your student’s Barnard experience thus far and ask the questions that are on your mind.
- Access Barnard — Access Barnard serves as the hub of College efforts to enhance the academic experiences and promote the inclusion and excellence of first-generation, low-income, and international students in their transition to and persistence through the Barnard experience.
- Barnard Dining — Barnard Dining, the on-site food service provider at the College, believes that serving healthy and nutritious food provides a foundation for successful learning.
- Barnard Global — The Barnard Global office provides advising and support for students looking to study abroad during either the academic year or the summer.
- Beyond Barnard — Beyond Barnard provides lifelong support for students and graduates as they define, pursue, and achieve success in their careers and communities.
- Center for Accessibility Resources & Disability Services (CARDS) — CARDS is the focal point for meeting the needs of community members (students, staff, and visitors) with disabilities.
- Community Accountability, Response, and Emergency Services (CARES) — CARES addresses campus safety across all elements, providing 24-hour, seven-days-a-week non-emergency and emergency response services.
- Deans’ Office for Advising and Support — The Deans’ Office for Advising and Support is committed to supporting the academic success, personal development, and mental and physical well-being of all students.
- Health and Wellness — Barnard offers primary care and mental health services to our students, coupled with holistic support to address the physical, mental, and financial well-being of our community.
- Residential Life & Housing — Residential Life and Housing provides a safe environment to promote the educational experience and personal growth of all students through intentional work practices, programming, and collaboration.
- Student Experience & Engagement (SEE) — Student Experience and Engagement envisions a Barnard where every student feels welcome and supported, is engaged, and becomes an agent for social change.
- Writing, Science, and Speaking Fellows — Writing, Science, and Speaking Fellows are trained peer-to-peer educators who work with students both individually and in groups on all aspects of academic work, with the understanding that knowledge can be built outside the classroom as well as inside it.
10:15 – 11:15 a.m. | Milbank Hall, 5th Floor
OPEN HOURS: ARTHUR ROSS GREENHOUSE
The Arthur Ross Greenhouse, atop Milbank Hall on Barnard’s campus, provides a rare NYC opportunity to enjoy nature and study plants. Barnard’s third greenhouse to date, this 3,400-square-foot, state-of-the-art plant growth facility built in 1998 replaced the previous greenhouse built in 1928. The conservatory has about 450 different species of plants from varied climate zones and is utilized as a research and teaching facility as well as a public space. Learn from our Student Greenhouse Assistants, who will be there to answer questions as you explore this remarkable facility at your own pace. And be sure to sign the guestbook during your visit!
You may also visit the Greenhouse on Friday, 1 – 4 p.m., or on Saturday, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Getting to the Greenhouse: Enter through the central doors of Milbank Hall and ascend the short staircase. Proceed to the 4th floor via the stairs or elevator, which can be found through the double doors to your right. To avoid stairs, please enter via the glass link between Altschul and Milbank Halls, turn right, and proceed along the hallway to the elevator. Once you arrive on the 4th floor, turn right, and you’ll find the entrance to the Greenhouse down the hall on your left. Once inside the Greenhouse, take the stairs or small passenger elevator up to the 5th floor.
11 a.m. – 12:50 p.m. | Barnard Hall, Studio 305
OBSERVE A BARNARD DANCE CLASS: High Intermediate Ballet IV with Juan Rodriguez
Barnard’s outstanding Dance Department offers an interdisciplinary program that integrates the study of dance within a liberal arts setting of intellectual and creative exploration and serves as the center for dance performance and research for both Barnard and Columbia. The department offers technique courses for students of all levels of expertise, and both courses and auditions for productions are open to both majors and non-majors alike. Ballet classes teach classical ballet techniques, emphasizing proper alignment and addressing artistry of articulation, phrasing, dynamics, and nuance at each level.
Capacity may be limited, so please be courteous in keeping your visit brief if other families are waiting. Photography, food, and drink are not permitted in the dance studio.
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. | Diana Center, Event Oval, Lower Level 1
A CONVERSATION WITH ALEX GUARNASCHELLI ’91
Presented by the Francine A. LeFrak Foundation Center for Well-Being
Please join us for a conversation with Alex Guarnaschelli ’91, recognized as one of America’s most accomplished top chefs and acclaimed for her work in the kitchen, as an author, and as a popular television personality. Alex will speak about her Barnard experience and her professional journey and will invite questions from the audience. Four random attendees will receive an autographed copy of Alex’s current New York Times bestselling cookbook, Cook It Up, co-authored with her daughter, Ava Clark.
LUNCH
Lunch may be purchased on campus in Hewitt Dining, the Diana Center Café, and Barnard Dining Bubble Tea and Sushi Spot, as well as the many restaurants located throughout the neighborhood. Coffee, beverages, and snacks are also available at Liz’s Place in the Diana Center. More information about on- and off-campus dining options can be found at the end of this program.
1 – 4 p.m. | Milbank Hall, 5th Floor
OPEN HOURS: ARTHUR ROSS GREENHOUSE
The Arthur Ross Greenhouse, atop Milbank Hall on Barnard’s campus, provides a rare NYC opportunity to enjoy nature and study plants. Barnard’s third greenhouse to date, this 3,400-square-foot, state-of-the-art plant growth facility built in 1998 replaced the previous greenhouse built in 1928. The conservatory has about 450 different species of plants from varied climate zones and is utilized as a research and teaching facility as well as a public space. Learn from our Student Greenhouse Assistants, who will be there to answer questions as you explore this remarkable facility at your own pace. And be sure to sign the guestbook during your visit!
You may also visit the Greenhouse on Saturday, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Getting to the Greenhouse: Enter through the central doors of Milbank Hall and ascend the short staircase. Proceed to the 4th floor via the stairs or elevator, which can be found through the double doors to your right. To avoid stairs, please enter via the glass link between Altschul and Milbank Halls, turn right, and proceed along the hallway to the elevator. Once you arrive on the 4th floor, turn right, and you’ll find the entrance to the Greenhouse down the hall on your left. Once inside the Greenhouse, take the stairs or small passenger elevator up to the 5th floor.
1 – 2:50 p.m. | Barnard Hall, Studio 305
OBSERVE A BARNARD DANCE CLASS: High Intermediate Modern IV with Jodi Melnick
Barnard’s outstanding Dance Department offers an interdisciplinary program that integrates the study of dance within a liberal arts setting of intellectual and creative exploration and serves as the center for dance performance and research for both Barnard and Columbia. The department offers technique courses for students of all levels of expertise, and both courses and auditions for productions are open to both majors and non-majors alike. Modern classes teach the aesthetic principles of contemporary dance based on the work of 20th-century innovators, with increased technical demands at each successive level.
Capacity may be limited, so please be courteous in keeping your visit brief if other families are waiting. Photography, food, and drink are not permitted in the dance studio.
2 – 2:45 p.m. | Diana Center, Event Oval, Lower Level 1
FACULTY SPOTLIGHT — WHAT IS YOUR STUDENT’S SUPERPOWER? CLIMATE, SUSTAINABILITY, AND CIRCULARITY AT BARNARD (PROF. SANDRA GOLDMARK)
From theatre artists tackling overconsumption and waste to climate co-teaching, learn how faculty, staff, and students from across the college are building effective and inclusive climate responses. Featured speaker: Sandra Goldmark, Director of Sustainability and Climate Action and Professor of Professional Practice in Theatre at Barnard College, Senior Assistant Dean for Interdisciplinary Engagement at the Columbia Climate School.
2:45 – 4 p.m. | Milbank Hall, Room 111
OPEN HOUSE: ACCESS BARNARD
Access Barnard serves as the hub of College efforts to enhance the academic experiences and promote the inclusion and excellence of first-generation, low-income, and international students in their transition to and persistence through the Barnard experience. We do so by celebrating identities, cultivating community, empowering exploration, mentoring others, and building allyship, holistic development, and self-advocacy. Come check out our space, chat with our staff, and learn more about upcoming programs and offerings!
2:45 – 4 p.m. | Milstein Center, Room 104
OPEN HOUSE: DESIGN CENTER
The Design Center is an interdisciplinary makerspace for experimentation with materials and tools, supporting design projects as well as the pedagogy associated with making. Incorporating a broad tool set that includes 3D printers, laser and vinyl cutters, sewing and embroidery machines, soldering irons, woodworking tools, and more, the Design Center expands opportunities for design-centered thinking across the Barnard College curriculum. Come by to see the space and make a custom pin!
2:45 – 4 p.m. | Milbank Hall, Room 115
OPEN HOUSE: 115 SUITE
Head over to Suite 115 in Milbank Hall to visit the offices of three pivotal campus areas: Health and Wellness, Campus Life & Student Experience and the Dean of the College, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Learn more and meet some of the team members who do this important work!
3 – 5 p.m. | Barnard Hall, Studio 305
OBSERVE A BARNARD DANCE CLASS: Afro-Cuban Dance with Rebecca Bliss
Barnard’s outstanding Dance Department offers an interdisciplinary program that integrates the study of dance within a liberal arts setting of intellectual and creative exploration and serves as the center for dance performance and research for both Barnard and Columbia. The department offers technique courses for students of all levels of expertise, and both courses and auditions for productions are open to both majors and non-majors alike. This class introduces students to the African-based folkloric and popular dances of Cuba, including Orisha, Rumba, and Salsa, and these forms are contextualized within the historical and contemporary significance of Afro-Cuban dance performance.
Capacity may be limited, so please be courteous in keeping your visit brief if other families are waiting. Photography, food, and drink are not permitted in the dance studio.
3:15 – 4 p.m. | Milbank Hall, Room 016, Lower Level
OPEN HOUSE: TODDLER CENTER
Stop by to tour the state-of-the-art Toddler Center space, opened in January 2023, and learn more about our program and philosophy from Associate Director and Barnard parent Alison Davis P’24. Since its opening in 1973, the Toddler Center has functioned as an integral part of the Psychology Department, providing a warm, positive first school experience for children, a unique learning experience for Barnard and Columbia students, a space to conduct research on early development and parenting, and a forum for parents and caregivers to discuss and learn about toddler development.
Getting to the Toddler Center: Entering through the central doors of Milbank Hall, descend the short staircase and turn right through the double doors. To avoid stairs, please enter via the glass link between Altschul and Milbank Halls and turn right. The administrative office is Room 016, on the left-hand side as you proceed down the hall. From there, our staff will provide access to the Toddler Center.
4 – 5 p.m. | Diana Center, Event Oval, Lower Level 1
SHAPING BARNARD’S FUTURE TOGETHER: A CONVERSATION WITH PRESIDENT ROSENBURY
Hear from President Laura Rosenbury as she reflects on her first months at the College and engage in a community conversation to share your thoughts, ask questions, and play an active role in ensuring Barnard’s continued eminence far into the future. The conversation will begin with introductions from Leslie Grinage, Vice President for Campus Life & Student Experience and Dean of the College, and A-J Aronstein, Assistant Vice President of Lifelong Success and Senior Advisor to the Provost.
5 – 6 p.m. | Diana Center, Millicent Carey McIntosh Student Dining Room, Level 2
WELCOME RECEPTION
Gather with fellow Barnard families to enjoy refreshments and celebrate with one another.
Saturday, October 14
All times are listed in Eastern Daylight Time (EDT).
9 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Diana Center, Main Lobby
CHECK-IN & INFORMATION CENTER
Welcome! When you arrive on campus each day, please stop by to check in and pick up a name tag and program. If questions arise, Family Weekend staff will be available here to assist you.
9 a.m. – 3 p.m. | Diana Center, Main Lobby
PARENTS COUNCIL TABLE
Stop by to say hello, grab some swag, and discover more about the Barnard Parents Council. Find out how you can make a difference for the College and deepen your connection with the Barnard community. When parents of Barnard students make a leadership gift to the Barnard Annual Fund, they become members of both the Blue & Bold Society, Barnard’s leadership giving society, and the Parents Council. For more information, please contact us at parentsgiving@barnard.edu.
9:30 – 10:15 a.m. | Diana Center, Event Oval, Lower Level 1
A CONVERSATION ON LEADERSHIP WITH THE ATHENA CENTER
Join Umbreen Bhatti ’00, Director of Barnard’s Athena Center for Leadership, and Mariame Sissoko ’24, President of Barnard’s Student Government Association, for a conversation about leadership development. We’ll discuss how students lead here at Barnard — where they’re surrounded by leaders — and the Athena Center for Leadership’s unique model.
10:30 – 11 a.m. | Various locations
BREAKOUT SESSIONS WITH THE CLASS DEANS
At Barnard, each of the four class years is assigned a Class Dean, who helps students navigate their time at Barnard and serves as a source of advising and support. In this session, the Class Deans will provide an overview of the milestones, challenges, and opportunities that your student might expect to encounter throughout the year and answer your questions.
- Class of 2027: Wendy Garay, Senior Associate Dean and Dean for the First-Year Class | Diana Center, Event Oval, Lower Level 1
- Class of 2026: Mary Laurita, Associate Dean for Transfer Students and Sophomore Class Dean | Altschul Hall, Lehman Auditorium, Room 202
- Classes of 2024 and 2025: Rebecca Grabiner, Senior Class Dean | Milstein Center, Lynn Chu Classroom, Lower Level 002
11 am. – 12 p.m. | Futter Field
FALL FESTIVAL
Gather with other Barnard families to enjoy cider and donuts, hear a special performance from Barnard’s Bacchantae a cappella group, and celebrate Family Weekend together.
11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. | Milbank Hall, 5th Floor
OPEN HOURS: ARTHUR ROSS GREENHOUSE
The Arthur Ross Greenhouse, atop Milbank Hall on Barnard’s campus, provides a rare NYC opportunity to enjoy nature and study plants. Barnard’s third greenhouse to date, this 3,400-square-foot, state-of-the-art plant growth facility built in 1998 replaced the previous greenhouse built in 1928. The conservatory has about 450 different species of plants from varied climate zones and is utilized as a research and teaching facility as well as a public space. Learn from our Student Greenhouse Assistants, who will be there to answer questions as you explore this remarkable facility at your own pace. And be sure to sign the guestbook during your visit!
Getting to the Greenhouse: Enter through the central doors of Milbank Hall and ascend the short staircase. Proceed to the 4th floor via the stairs or elevator, which can be found through the double doors to your right. To avoid stairs, please enter via the glass link between Altschul and Milbank Halls, turn right, and proceed along the hallway to the elevator. Once you arrive on the 4th floor, turn right, and you’ll find the entrance to the Greenhouse down the hall on your left. Once inside the Greenhouse, take the stairs or small passenger elevator up to the 5th floor.
LUNCH
Lunch may be purchased on campus in Hewitt Dining and at the many restaurants located throughout the neighborhood. Coffee, beverages, and snacks are also available at Liz’s Place in the Diana Center. More information about on- and off-campus dining options can be found at the end of this program.
12 – 12:30 p.m. | Altschul Hall, Atrium
BREATHE AND STRETCH WITH FITBEAR
Presented by the Francine A. LeFrak Foundation Center for Well-Being
Join Sophia Rouze ’18, Barnard FITbear instructor, for a quick session to stretch and revitalize your body and mind during a busy Family Weekend. Yoga-based, light and easy, no equipment needed and open to all.
Please note that capacity for this event is limited for the safety of all participants.
12:30 – 2:30 p.m. | Diana Center, Millicent Carey McIntosh Student Dining Room, Level 2
SHABBAT LUNCH
Join your student and the Barnard Kosher community at Shabbat Lunch, prepared by the Hewitt Kosher Servery under the supervision of the mashgiach. The cost is $15 per guest and advance registration is required by Thursday, October 12 at 2 p.m.
1 – 1:45 p.m. | Diana Center, Event Oval, Lower Level 1
FACULTY SPOTLIGHT — OBSERVING DOGS: SCIENCE, THEORY, AND APPLICATION (PROF. ALEXANDRA HOROWITZ)
The Dog Cognition Lab at Barnard studies the umwelt of the domestic dog: what dogs (including the one waiting for you at home) perceive, understand, and experience. In this talk, Alexandra Horowitz, Senior Research Fellow and head of the Dog Cognition Lab, will review some of our studies, which are conducted with student involvement, and describe how the science translates into rethinking how we live with dogs now.
1:30 p.m. | Robert K. Kraft Field at Wien Stadium, Baker Athletics Complex (533 W. 218th St.)
FOOTBALL — COLUMBIA VS. UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
Cheer on the Columbia Lions at Homecoming! Tickets for guests are required and may be purchased on the Columbia Athletics website. Current students enter free with their Barnard College ID. Free fan shuttles are available, departing from 116th St. and Broadway beginning at 10 a.m. and returning after the game ends. The venue is also accessible via the 1 subway train uptown to the 215th St. stop.
2 – 2:45 p.m. | Diana Center, Event Oval, Lower Level 1
WHAT WE CAN TEACH EACH OTHER: PEER-TO-PEER RESOURCES AT BARNARD
At Barnard, learning isn’t limited to the classroom — students teach, advise, and mentor one another with positive outcomes across a range of areas, including academics, careers, and social support. Our speakers from Access Barnard, Beyond Barnard, the Deans’ Office for Advising and Support, and the Writing, Science, and Speaking Fellows will share examples of peer-to-peer resources across campus, why and when students should utilize these programs, and how both peers benefit from their roles.
3 – 3:30 p.m. | Diana Center, Glicker-Milstein Theatre, Lower Level 2
THEATRE AT BARNARD: A PEEK BEHIND-THE-SCENES
Join the Barnard College Department of Theatre for a behind-the-scenes look at the technical rehearsal process of the first production of our 2023-24 season, William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. Department productions are open to majors and non-majors across Barnard, Columbia College, and the School of General Studies, and feature student actors and technicians working alongside professional designers. During this session, hear from Alice Reagan, Associate Professor of Professional Practice in Directing, about her directing process. Then, the department’s Director of Production, Mike Banta, will share more insight into the technical process of mounting a show at Barnard, followed by a backstage tour of the Glicker-Milstein Theatre. Twelfth Night will run October 19-22; more information can be found at https://theatre.barnard.edu/events/twelfth-night.
3 p.m. | Departing from Diana Center, Main Lobby
TOUR OF THE MORNINGSIDE HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD
Curious to learn more about the neighborhood surrounding Barnard’s campus? Join our tour guides on a walking tour to explore the highlights of the unique and charming Morningside Heights community, which offers an eclectic mix of shops and restaurants, an abundance of green space, and a college-town feel.
3:30 p.m. | Departing from Diana Center, Main Lobby
TOUR OF THE MORNINGSIDE HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD
Curious to learn more about the neighborhood surrounding Barnard’s campus? Join our tour guides on a walking tour to explore the highlights of the unique and charming Morningside Heights community, which offers an eclectic mix of shops and restaurants, an abundance of green space, and a college-town feel.
6 p.m. | Rocco B. Commisso Soccer Stadium, Baker Athletics Complex (533 W. 218th St.)
WOMEN’S SOCCER: COLUMBIA VS. BROWN
Because of our partnership with Columbia University, Barnard is the only women’s college where students can compete in NCAA Division I athletics. Travel via 1 train to Baker Athletics Complex to cheer on our Barnard and Columbia student-athletes. Tickets are not required.